The Oneida Indian Nation joins congressional leaders on Capitol Hill to commemorate Polly Cooper $1 Native American coin

Oneida Indian Nation Homelands, New York (February 9, 2026) – Ahead of America’s 250th anniversary, The Oneida Indian Nation Council joined members of Congress, and officials from the U.S. Department of the Treasury for a reception celebrating the Oneida Indian Nation’s legacy of cooperation, sovereignty and enduring partnership as first allies of the United States. The reception brought together a bipartisan group of elected officials to recognize the 2026 Native American $1 Coin honoring Oneida Indian Nation ancestor Polly Cooper, a heroine of the Revolutionary War who made a historic journey from Oneida Indian Nation homelands in Upstate New York to Valley Forge where she delivered food and supplies to save General George Washington’s starving troops. Speakers included U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), U.S. Representative Tom Cole (OK-4); Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus and Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation, U.S. Representative Jeff Hurd (CO-3), House Chairman of the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs and U.S. Representative Sharice Davids (KS-3); The second Native American Women to serve in Congress and Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus and member of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin. U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach was in attendance to represent the U.S. Treasury Department. “It is especially meaningful to have Polly Cooper’s legacy recognized ahead of the 250th anniversary of America’s founding as it reflects the way that our story as Oneida and the story of the United States will always be inseparable,” said Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter. “Polly Cooper’s legacy of allyship does not belong to the Oneida Indian Nation or Upstate New York alone. It is the story of our people, the region we call home, the state where our ancestral homelands lie and the country.” Photos from the reception can be found here. The full press release announcing the Polly Cooper $1 Native American Coin can be found here. About the Oneida Indian Nation The Oneida Indian Nation is a federally recognized Indian nation in Central New York. A founding member of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (also known as the Six Nations or Iroquois Confederacy), the Oneida Indian Nation sided with the Americans in the Revolutionary War and was thanked by Congress and President George Washington for its loyalty and assistance. Today, the Nation’s enterprises, which employ more than 5,000 people. Proceeds from these enterprises are used to rebuild the Nation’s economic base and provide essential services, including housing, health care, and education incentives and programs, to its Members. Media Contact: Joel Barkin, Vice President of Strategic Communications and Community Engagement 315.361.8173 jbarkin@oneida-nation.org